AP Language Glossary of Terms Flashcards

5768077809	Allegory	Using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. Ex. Allegory of the Cave by Plato	0
5767999469	Alliteration	Repetition of INITIAL consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words Ex. "Sally sells seashells by the seashore"	1
5768022948	Allusion	Direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known Ex. event, book, myth, place	2
5768033828	Ambiguity	The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word phrase, sentence, or passage Ex. "John took off his trousers by the bank." It is funny if we confuse one meaning of "bank" which is a building, to another meaning, being "an edge of a river". Context usually resolves any ambiguity in such cases.	3
5768062077	Anadiplosis	Repetition of the LAST WORD of one clause at the beginning of the following clause. Ex. "Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering." -Yoda	4
5767967635	Analogy	A similiarity or comparison between two different things or relationship between them. Can associate something unfamiliar with something that is more familiar. Ex. Cosmin Prison	5
5768094370	Anaphora	Repetition in which the SAME EXPRESSION (word or words) is repeated at the BEGINING of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences. Ex. "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times."	6
5768117467	Anecdote	A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person.	7
5768126017	Antecedent	The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun Ex. "while giving treats to children or friends offer them whatever they like." In these lines, children and friends are antecedents, while they is a pronoun, referring to friends and children.	8
5768142730	Aphorism	A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a GENERAL TRUTH OR MORAL PRINCIPLE. An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point. EX. The simplest questions are the hardest to answer	9
5768172739	Apostrophe	A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction such as love and liberty. An ADDRESS TO SOMEONE OR THING THAT CANNOT ANSWER.	10
5768194381	Atmosphere	The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute. Frequently FORESHADOWS events. Perhaps it can create a mood.	11
5768204679	Clause	A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb	12
5768217577	Colloquial	The use of slang or informalities	13
5768223788	Coherence	A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible	14
5768240661	Conceit	A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. Displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made.	15
5768244775	Connotation	NONLITERAL associative meaning of a word; implied	16
5768261630	Denotation	The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.	17
5768263533	Diction	Related to style, diction refers to the WRITER'S WORD CHOICE, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.	18
5768272090	Didactic	Means "TEACHING." Has the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles	19
5768282890	Epistrophe	Repetition at the END of successive clauses. The opposite of anaphora Ex. "They saw no evil, they spoke no evil, and they heard no evil."	20
5768300978	Euphuism	From the Greek for "good speech," are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. Ex. Saying "earthly remains" rather than "corpse" is	21
5768314137	Exposition	The purpose is to EXPLAIN SOMETHING. In drama, the is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters	22
5768317554	Extended Metaphor	A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work	23
5768321729	Figurative Language	Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid	24
5768326123	Figure of Speech	A DEVICE USED TO PRODUCE FIGURITIVE LANGUAGE. Many compare dissimilar things. Figures of speech include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, and understatement	25
5768337690	Generic Conventions	Traditions for each genre and helps to define each genre Ex. they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing	26
5768347638	Genre	Major category in which a literary work fits	27
5768355702	Homily	"SERMON" of any story, serious talk, speech or lecture involving Spiritual or Moral advise.	28
5768369197	Hyperbole	A figure of speech using DELIBERATE EXAGERATION OR OVERSTATEMENT. Often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, produces irony.	29
5768382305	Imagery	The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses. Ex. a rose may present visual imagery while also representing the color in a woman's cheeks and/or symbolizing some degree of perfection (It is the highest flower on the Great Chain of Being	30
5768392102	Inference	To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. Note that if the answer choice is directly stated, it is not inferred and is wrong.	31
5768403505	Invective	An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.	32
5768414100	Irony	The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what appears to be and what actually is true.	33
5768417041	Loose Sentence	A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.	34
5768439890	Metaphor	A figure of speech using implied COMPARISON OF SEEMINGLY UNLIKE THINGS or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting similarity. Makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful.	35
5768455066	Metonymy	A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," is a figure of speech in which the NAME OF ONE OBJECT SUBSTITUTED for that of another closely associated with it. Ex. A news release that claims "the White House declared" rather that "the President declared". The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact.	36
5768468036	Mood	The first meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speaker's attitude	37
5768471427	Narrative	The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.	38
5768477696	Onomatopoeia	A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex. buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur	39
5768484962	Oxymoron	A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox Ex. Jumbo shrimp	40
5768489897	Paradox	A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity. Ex. Macbeth	41
5768497928	Parallelism	It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity	42